Warm Days

Even sad she is adorable :)

We weren't letting the warm weather keep us down!  We took advantage of the sunny days and went outside to play.  On Wednesday, we joined our friends for a play date at Veteran's Acres in Crystal Lake.  We thought we might try out the splash pad but there really isn't anything there for non-walkers.  We still had a great time having lunch, swinging and getting a little mist from the breeze.  Scott was able to join us so it was an even better day!

Excited to swing!

In the air

Swinging with Andi

Love our friend Andi

Auntie Kristie came to play!

Action shot :)

Looking up to the sky and Ava's toes

Daddy put her toes in the water - she did not like it! Too cold!

On Thursday we decided that we would try swimming again.  This time I set it up in the back yard.  The last time we swam Scott was home to help fill up the pool too.  We ran the hose (with freezing water!) while Scott went into the house repeatedly to fill up a pot and pitcher with hot water to mix into the cold water.  It was a happy mix and very much tolerable.  This time, Scott was at work so I tried it on my own.  I had the hose running in the pool.  One of our little neighbors, Addison, was "helping" to fill it up.  She was loving just holding the hose and putting water in each corner.  Well, needless to say, I let too much hose water in and not enough hot water from the house.  By this point I was already sweating just going back and forth to fill it up.  I wanted to make it "deeper" this time because I bought a cute little float for Ava to sit in.  It's really quite neat.  There is a seat she goes in that has inflated tubes around it to support her weight.  It even has a sun shade.  Well this water was a bit too chilly for her.  She never outright cried but she did not like it at first and she let me know it, sad face and all.  Eventually the heat of the day and adjusting to the water won out and she was fine.

Not very happy

Feeling better now

We were going to try and swim again on Friday but it literally "Rained on our pool-rade."  That's ok, we napped the day away.  :)  On Saturday we got together with Grandma and Grandpa Cook for a family picture and cook-out.  I'm excited to get the CD of the pictures - there were some really good ones!  When we were all finished I snuck a pic or two in of Ava. :) 

Should we be doing this Mommy?

Quick, they aren't looking!

Oh no!  We better not get in trouble!

Did I mention that she is now quite adept at removing hats and headbands?  I don't put them on her in the car anymore because this is typically what happens...

Found it...

Going...

Going...

Gone...What a stinker!

Monday will be 5 months!  We didn't have a doctor's appointment for 5 months (Ava's little legs are jumping for joy - no shots!) so I will have the official unofficial weigh in and measurements on Monday.  You know, the kind where Mommy weighs herself with and without Ava to subtract and find the difference.  Haha.  I'll be trying to keep her wiggle wormy self still as I hold up a tape measure too.  Wish me luck!  We are also going to try to get to Three Oaks this next week as the heat wave continues.  It would be nice to get her in the float where she could actually float - not just touch the bottom of the baby pool.  I'll try to get some pictures up before our big first 4th of July celebration!

Stay classy San Diego, er I mean - stay cool in the hot weather!  :)

Summer Lovin'

All tuckered out after a walk

We are lovin' on summer!  We have spent lots of time outside enjoying the beautiful weather!  We've been on our play dates, watched Daddy play lots of softball and even lounged around in our yard.

Love reading books!

Love eating books too!

Watching the leaves

Ava is getting so big, so fast!  It's hard to believe she will be 5 months next week!  We have now tried 3 different cereals with moderate success.  Her favorite part of cereal is when I say "All done" and begin wiping her face.  She gets a huge grin!  I really believe that she knows what it means.  

Ava definitely knows what her hands can do!  She loves to grab anything she can - and not just accidentally any more.  One of her favorite games is to put her fingers in Scott's or my mouth and we will blow on them, kiss them or make a funny noise.  She will smile, take them out and then put them back again.  She also has found her thumb.  She gnaws on it more than sucks on it though.  Those teeth are just around the corner!

Got that thumb!

This past week we (read I) were finally ready to get Ava in her crib.  (I'm doing pretty well - the video monitor has been my best friend!!)  For the most part she does pretty well too!  She knows that after her bath it is time for bed.  She goes down ok - still working on her getting to sleep without me feeding her.  Once she is asleep she usually stays down for 4-5 hours.  I'll feed her again and she'll go back to sleep for 3 more.  We are working on her ability to sleep past 6.  :)  There have definitely been a few rough nights though - as Scooter would tell you.  On one particular occasion she was crying and I went in to soothe her.  I picked her up and she was still crying - usually she will stop when I get her.  It got to the point that Nervous Nelly (Scooter) ran from the room, ran downstairs and ran back up squeaking his favorite toy.  He brought it into the nursery and dropped it in front of Ava and then resumed his spot laying down on the floor.  He thought that his toy would make her feel better.  (This was the second time that he has brought her one of his toys when she was crying.)  He is such a good little dog!

Laying outside with her guard dog :)

Ava is ready to roll!  She gets up on her sides all the time now.  (On her side is actually her preferred sleeping position too.)  She gets to moving on her playmat and is so close to being able to go over onto her tummy.  A few times I think she might have except the bars on the mat got in the way.  She loves playing on her mat though, especially with her block.  She will chew on it, talk to it, grab and kick at it. She will even push her legs on the bars of the mat and tilt the entire side of the mat off the ground.   I think we are gonna be in big trouble when she really starts moving!

Such a happy baby!

Her favorite block

I see you sneaking pictures of me!

If I smile will you quit with the pictures?

Hi, Mommy!

Family couch day - a favorite of all!

Until next time!

Happy Father's Day!

Daddy and his little lady(bug)

One of my favorite parts about being a Mommy and having Ava is watching Scott with her.  The way he giggles at her, the "conversations" they have and just the way he loves her.  She definitely is Daddy's girl! (and she already has him wrapped around her little finger)  Happy First Father's Day, Scott.  You are an amazing Daddy to our little girl, I love you so much.

Dancing with Daddy before bath time

More dancing with Daddy

Dinner with Daddy

Hanging out

Lots of smiles for Daddy

Peek-a-Boo!

We were playing around with her blanket and found this quite amusing!  I tried to include this in the last post but I have a hard time uploading video for some reason.  More to come soon!

A week of firsts!

Our little girl has had a lot of firsts in her first week as a four month old!  We had her four month check-up and she is growing like a weed!  She is now 14 pounds 8 ounces - in the 60th percentile!  More shocking than that she is 25 1/2 inches long!  Our little peanut is in the 90th percentile for height!  She had more shots which left her feverish and crabby.  The doctor said that we can start cereal now!  Everyone always says how fast it goes - I used to shake my head and say yeah, yeah I know.  But it does!  She changes so much each day.  Our little lady is definitely coming into her own!

She has discovered her tongue and that it is very funny when she sticks it out.  Her frequent smiles are now accompanied with her tongue sticking out.  :P

Ava went for her first swing in a big girl swing at our play date on Wednesday.  Luckily our friend Kristi had something nice and cushy for her to sit in (and to fill out the swing because she is still so little).  She loved it!  In fact, she was so comfortable that she fell asleep for a long time!  The motion, warm day and shots all combined to make her very sleepy.  She also got to sit in a police car with her friend Hannah, two trouble makers already! :)

Our first experience with cereal was a very messy one!  She was really funny.  Even though it was very watered down, the texture was so different for her that she wasn't sure what to do.  Each bite seemed to come right back out of her mouth with her tongue.  We'll get it eventually.

The highlight of our week was our first road trip!  We drove to Valpo to see my Aunt Phyllis and cousin Kristin from Florida.  They were up visiting their family and they were so close that we couldn't pass up the opportunity!

This weekend is supposed to be gorgeous!  I am hoping to get Miss Ava back in her swimming pool. :)